Anglers Must Speak Up

STEVE WATERS ON OUTDOORS

Coastal Conservation Association Florida is a powerful voice for recreational fishing in offshore and inshore waters, which is why David Howton wants Broward County anglers to be heard.

Howton is the president of the newly reorganized Broward chapter of CCA Florida. Although the county has plenty of individual CCA members, it has never had a strong chapter, which is something Howton hopes to change.

"We've got about 400 members in Broward County," Howton said. "My goal is to have over 1,000 in the next two years. I honestly believe that if we can get the fishing clubs behind us, we can be the largest chapter in the state."

The Palm Beach County chapter is the biggest and the Orlando chapter is a close second, both with around 900 members. CCA Florida has about 10,000 members statewide in more than two dozen chapters. Nationally, Howton said, CCA has about 90,000 from Texas to Maine.

The director of the financial institutions division for Countrywide Securities, Howton, who likes to fish offshore for dolphin and sailfish and inshore for sea trout, redfish and tarpon, has had success with other CCA chapters.

Fifteen years ago he was vice president of a CCA chapter in Birmingham, Ala. He was actively involved in the Palm Beach chapter, helping it go from raising about $50,000 at its banquets to netting $120,000.

To help get off to a strong start, the Broward chapter is holding a holiday "fun-raiser" and auction Dec. 9 at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum in Dania Beach.

The event features a steak dinner and an open bar. Auction items include boats, Yamaha outboard motors, fishing trips, artwork, jewelry and fishing tackle.

Tickets are $50 for individuals, which includes a one-year CCA membership. Cost for couples is $75, which includes an annual membership and an associate membership. A CCA membership alone is $25 per year.

"We're trying to keep the cost very low so that we can have a good showing," Howton said, adding that tickets can be ordered by calling Marcia Dunfee at 407-854-7002, ext. 10. We have a maximum capacity of 250 people and we do expect to sell out in the next two weeks."

I believe that every saltwater angler in Florida should be a CCA member. The dues are cheap, yet they fund major grass-roots efforts that have protected fish and the rights of fishermen.

"I tell guys in fishing clubs that for the cost of less than what you spend on bait for a fishing trip, you can have a voice on a state and national level," Howton said.

CCA Florida's achievements have been impressive. Howton noted that CCA representatives have attended every Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission meeting over 16 years.

"There's no other organization that can say that," Howton said.

It is at those meetings that people such as CCA Florida Executive Diector Ted Forsgren help shape fishery management plans through their testimony before FWC commissioners. When those commissioners come up with half-baked plans, Forsgren alerts CCA members, who can then let the commissioners know the error of their ways.

CCA Florida plays an even bigger role when the legislature is in session. The organization backed a law that was passed this spring that increased the penalty for illegal netting violations from a misdemeanor to a felony. Before then, net violators were slapped on the wrist.

Now their first flagrant violation nets a $5,000 fine and suspension of all saltwater licenses for 12 months. A second violation costs another $5,000, a lifetime revocation of all saltwater licenses and forfeiture of all gear used in the violation.

Helping to devise sensible manatee regulations that protect sea cows without turning all state waters into a no-wake zone has consumed a lot of CCA Florida's time.

The organization also has been busy pointing out the folly of no-fishing zones, noting that catch-and-release fishing is OK in some of those areas.

Steve Waters can be reached at swaters@sun-sentinel.com or at 954-356-4648.